Drakes League supporters will have to get used to a new system on scoreboxes next summer.
Traditionally, club scorers in the Huddersfield District League have always counted the number of overs upwards, from one to 50, showing how many have been completed.
In 2016, however, the overs will be counted down from 50, so supporters will be shown how many overs are remaining in the innings.
This is to overcome any confusion in rain-affected matches or ones which have started late.
Clubs voted for the change at the annual meeting at Almondbury CC, along with the permanent introduction of the ‘modernisation package’ which was operated for the first time last summer as an experiment.
The only alteration to that formula is that four points will now be awarded to each side for a tie.
Fielding circles and the associated fielding restrictions have now been introduced into second-team cricket as well as firsts and – as expected with the league now numbering 39 clubs and needing a preliminary round for the allroundercricket.com Sykes Cup and Fired Up Paddock Shield competitions – the Oddfellows and Earnshaw Cup competitions have been scrapped for clubs in the Jedi Sports Championship and Cedar Court Conference.
There will be no midweek play in the preliminary rounds of the Sykes Cup and Paddock Shield – an abridged rain rule will be used to determine the outcome of affected matches.
The League have announced a surplus of £4,278 for 2015 and have net assets of £38,803.
A minute’s silence was observed by representatives following the death of former Drakes League chairman Raymond Smith, at the age of 91.
He was a Life Vice President of the league and current President Donald Earnshaw paid tribute.
“The passing of our Life Vice President Raymond Smith is very sad news,” he commented.
“He was a friend, a gentleman and a disciplinarian – a much respected man in the league council.
“He was chairman for several years and also president of his club, Thongsbridge. He will be sadly missed.”
